Close up image of a caretaker helping older woman walk

President Bush may have recently signed a Medicare billinto law, but legislators are expected to revisit some aspects of it because ofshort time frames built into the legislation. 

For example, the law (S. 2499) only extends by half ayear an extension of therapy caps for Medicare Part B therapy. The law alsoprovides a 0.5% increase in the Medicare physician payment update for just sixmonths.

 Nursing home providers have been pleased that the lawdoes not cut into the 3.3% market basket for skilled nursing facilities to fundMedicare programs, such as the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Thelaw extends funding for SCHIP through March 31, 2009.